Review Loretta - Wellington

Great brunch! Really quick service. Was busy on Sunday mid morning and were seated straight away with no booking. Food was really great, unfortunately the coffee was really bitter and not very nice. Would absolutely be back for the food though!

I visited Loretta for dinner with family recently and thoroughly enjoyed a dining experience! I found the food to be absolutely delicious and impeccably prepared. Our waitress was very attentive, friendly and helpful. She couldn't have been any more so! The menu is geared around sharing with the table which was fun. Loretta is very well worth a visit if you're looking for great food and a great dining experience in the central city.

It's been a few years since I've visited Wellington, and I'm glad this restaurant is still around. I had fond memories of dining here last time (probably 6, 7 years ago) and the food is still as good as I remembered. With dishes designed to share, it is great value for a lovely meal.

Ordered several small plates for sharing. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. So much finesse in the dishes! The fennel and radish salad was refreshing and complemented the lamb (lamb was fork tender btw). One of the best restaurants we have tried in NZ!

Greeted with a smile on arrival, and promptly shown to a table. Friendly staff, with prompt water replacement when bottle nearly finished! Waffles were excellent and almost too big! My wife had the omelet which she liked. I love it when I get great service and great food in the same venue! Highly recommend!

Astonishing development! Loretta is the first restaurant we’ve ever been to (and we’ve asked the question of at least a hundred) which has said “yes” to having a non-alcoholic wine on it’s list… It was a sparking wine, and my partner enjoyed her glass very much. Congratulations to Loretta on their first and I hope they add a zero white and rose to their list (McGuigans are not bad). And if they can find a drinkable red that would be an achievement. Our plate-sized pizzas were just right and the surprising combination of wood-fired peach, pancetta, stracciatella, balsamic, and basil was delicious. Dark chocolate mousse was wonderful. Speaking of wonderful. we were treated really well by the team and in particular Zoe and Lena who gave us a great table in the window. Even on a rainy Sunday evening it was fun watching the world go by.

Good atmosphere for a Monday night, but I imagine it would be jumping by the end of the week. The food was fabulous and so flavoursome. The fig salad and the coconut cervice were a highlight. Staff were all lovely and very friendly. Excellent service.

Great mushrooms on toast, lots of tables inside and quite packed as well. Service pretty good.

Wonderful dinner experience. The menu is full of yummy fresh seasonable produce and quality protein. The portion is generous for sharing and the flavours are perfect and interesting. We went as a group and did not have a booking on a busy Friday night before Xmas. The host was friendly and accommodating and the wait staff were all attentive and helpful. The checking in throughout the night was the best services we had experienced around the country since COVID.

Such unique food but they pull it off —peaches on pizza, bubbly wine on tap, fenugreek cheese, and the best pate I’ve had in years. The server made us feel part of the family (named Ella?). And the dessert selection! Yum!!

The atmosphere in this restaurant was the epitome of industrial zen and really matched the food they serve. The fan fried fish was delicious but a bit difficult to consume because it was prepared as an entirety. The salad technically exactly what we had requested by asking for a side of greens but the taste was bitter and brought out the undesirable side of any garden salad. The pizza was quite unique and enjoyable, would order it again if I came back!

Fantastic service but thin on meat-free/plant-based items. The servers were very helpful to make suggestions and ensure there was something I could eat besides salad or the Pizza—which admittedly is top-class. It’s never fun having no choice and having to eat the 1 meat-free dish a restaurant thinks to serve (aka The Veg Option), especially when everyone else is tucking in.

Ate here for a weekday breakfast. Menu has a good selection of items at different price points. Breakfast scone very reasonable for $4.50.

Been there for a Sunday late brunch, the food was AMAZING. We had salmon, croque Madame, eggs on toast and we shared a potato and pesto pizza. The staff is super friendly and the food was sooo good. This is surely one of the best spots in Welli.

Ordered a mocha and was a bit disappointed with the taste of it. The food itself was attractively presented. In terms of taste it was okay but not something that i would order again. Had the coconut yorghurt crumpets.

Came here for lunch on a week day - Very spacious cafe with a good variety of lunch choices. We had pulled pork and chicken sandwiches- they were both bursting with flavours and very filling. Service was very friendly and attentive. Although no kids options on the menu staff were very kid friendly:)<br/>

Love the cheese scones! Attentive and friendly service. Wish they were open Monday’s, which is more about me wanting to have the option to dine there as they are local to me :)

Came here for lunch and got the charred eggplant salad. <br/>This was so good! Simple flavours but everything put together made it flavourful and well balanced. <br/>I was tempted by the wood fried sandwiches? So I might come back and try them out!

Went here with family, we all enjoyed our dishes immensely. I had the lamb skewers with eggplant tho it was smallish and wish I’d ordered a side as well. The feijoa sorbet was excellent. Great friendly service and good wine list. I had a cold so really happy to have a warm lemon, honey and ginger off the menu.

The atmosphere is lovely and classy. Food equally classy, very posh/modern and organic sort of vibe. Service can be slow when it’s packed tho but that’s obvious. Had a huge piece of plastic in my salad so I haven’t returned since but the food is not bad anyway!!!

I had read the reviews so was wanting to try this pl for ages. Went here for lunch today and it was fantastic. I was very surprised by the portions and quality of the food - it was super - so healthy and full of flavour 👌🏽Prices are pretty good, service was ok, decor was nice, drink selection was great. The pizza oven was not on today so will need to come back and try them out. Had the risotto,chicken pie ( very popular) ploughman, potatoes ( delicious) with a wine 🍷.

Absolute favorite brunch spot in Wellington! The menu is so quirky and delicious. My partner and I come here all the time, yet are always able to try something new. Loretta also has a great ambiance with a sort of minimalistic but very modern feel.

Loved the salads, very generous portions. One of my best spots in Wellington. We came here twice within a week, the second experience was outstanding. <br/><br/>Food 6/5 - mushroom pizza was one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had. Salads were fresh, great portion sizes and unique. <br/>Atmosphere 5/5<br/>Service 5/5

Amazing ever changing menu only surpassed by the quality and presentation of the food. Great service to boot. Now flagged as a favourite for the Whanau

I’ve yet to see an Asian Fusion dessert menu that makes me stay on for desserts, so after a fabulous dinner elsewhere, we strolled along to Loretta’s for their dessert menu. <br/>My daughter and fiancé have obviously done this before as I pretty much heard what was on the menu, and what were the favourites before we arrive. <br/>In the end, we order 2 and half desserts to be shared between 3, and they did not disappoint. Open form pie, 2-tone New York chocolate cheesecake, and a scoop of salted caramel ice cream (I think!), and a cup of fresh mint tea comes to $32. <br/>It’s a large, long space, which has the bar and open kitchen down one side, and homemade preserves for sale too. A lovely spot, and another restaurant that I’d love revisit for something other than dessert.

Ordered the mushroom pizza here and it was sooo good!! Great service and ambience. Ordered the carrot cake for dessert which wasn’t too bad. Overall a lovely experience.

Anticipation can be toxic when it comes to trying somewhere new. And unfortunately, Loretta's was infected by my high levels of anticipation when I visited recently.<br/><br/>I had been told to go there by a few different people. "Good", "fresh", "simple", "healthy" kept coming up when I asked why so that's what I was hoping for.<br/><br/>Now don't get me wrong. It was all those things. The menu is (literally) huge ie. settle in for wee bit of reading to do it justice. My problem is that choices for me... vegetarian, gluten free were almost non-existent.<br/><br/>I know it must be hard catering for so many different palates but I am always happy to see restaurants that do one dish which caters for most specialty diets. It feels like they are giving their diners a hug because they've put thought into those of us who eat a bit differently. And, to be honest, I had this idea that Loretta's would be like this.<br/><br/>So I ate two salads. They weren't bad salads, I just ended up eating a snack when I got home.<br/><br/>Service was pretty stock standard. The wait staff were attentive but nothing stands out about the service. I always feel awkward asking about special diet options and when I did, the waitress was a bit unsure of what was and wasn't suitable for me.<br/><br/>The atmosphere and decor is simple chic. Quite clean and spacious. It was busy when we were there so hard to hear any background music.<br/><br/>Overall, not a bad experience but I can't see myself popping in again soon (sorry Loretta's team) which I'm a bit disappointed about!<br/>

Great place and great service. The food is also quite characteristic and tastes unique and good at the same time. I usually have the Freekeh which has always been consistently delicious.

This place is so beautiful and the menu so extensive and unique! I had the chicken soup with fresh bread and it was delicious as well as the banana bread which was so yum too! So keen to come back and try the pizzas and the crumpets especially!

A real lovely place with a great team working to keep everything flowing! <br/>My sister and I shared the Pomegranate Bread / Chicken Pizza / Beef dish. The beef was cooked to perfection, absolutely divine, the salad had anchovies (we only saw beef and didn’t read any further) which made it extremely salty for us but the leaves were so fresh and crispy, that while the saltyness was hard to handle we could not eat our veges ... next time (and there will be a next time) must ask for them to be removed.<br/>Also, for next time I’ll choose to have either one of the bread bites or a pizza ... for the waistline!

Great service and very attentative staff. Food, breads and coffee were really good but took over an hour to arrive. The place is really busy so be prepared to wait.

4 words Good food great service. Had the banana cake. It was great. Also tried out the waffles with bacon. It was amazing. The flavors went about perfectly. Must visit place.

Love this place. Lots of carefully thought out salads, pizzas etc and the best roast chicken in Wellington. Love that the meat is all free range and they offer some gluten free and dairy free options although these could be increased very easily. I prefer to come for breakfast on a weekday as it is very quiet and chill. Dinner is great with a group as well. Lovely wine list by the glass.

Staff were extremely over attentive and continued to interrupt our conversations to full up our water. We felt as though staff were hovering over us as it was a slow morning and there wasn’t anything else to do. Extremely annoying.

I have been to Loretta for dinner with my boyfriend and it was literally most disappointing dinner ever I had. One of staffs was pretty rude. She put cutleries and plates with noises with unhappy face on her face. we felt like we are being ignored.<br/>Food was bit cold and tough.<br/>Wait time was not too long tho.<br/>I've heared it's really good place to dine<br/>But for me was absolutely not.<br/>I'll Never go here again.

Everything about the Loretto is divine. Divine food, divine ambiance etc etc. I had the bircher muesli with poached quince and what can I say but it was divine! The mint tea was superb. Highly recommended and I can't wait to return.

My favorites here are the woodfire pizzas and the cheesecakes. The pizzas might take a while but definitely worth the wait. The space itself is also very pretty, my favorite seat is just by the window looking out to cuba street.

Highly recommend this place. The food was awesome! I do love the fennel pizza. And also all those dessert are super tasty. Definitely will visit again.

I came here as I was walking past looking for somewhere with some good cabinet sweets for afternoon tea at a friend's place. Bought Portuguese egg tarts and the vegan raspberry chocolate cupcakes. Both really good and even went down well with the 2 and 5 year old. Will come back to try the menu!

Cool decor and atmosphere but waitress at the counter was fairly standoffish which was pretty disappointing as seems like an otherwise great place!

Great service, great food, what more can I say other than I will definitely be visiting again !! Once we placed our order it didn't take long before our food was placed before us. Staff were friendly and the atmosphere was chill. Thanks To all the staff for making my experience in Wellington that much enjoyable.

A group of 4 of us arrived at just after 5 on a Saturday night and were seated right away. Staff were super attentive and helpful when it came to deciding what to eat. I ordered the chicken pie and it's probably in the top 10 pies I've ever eaten (and I eat a lot of pies). For dessert I had the grasshopper pie - interesting choice, interesting texture, great taste. Everyone at the table really enjoyed their meals and only had positive things to say. Loretta has beautiful decor and great ambience and the outer towner I was with from Hawke' Bay was very impressed. I had never been to Loretta for dinner before, but will be back for more 💛

Loretta is a well oiled machine. The staff are on the ball from the minute you set foot inside the large and bustling establishment; the maitre'd found us a table quickly and kept us happily caffeinated and the waitress knew exactly who had ordered what despite not being the person to take our order. My soy cappuccino was silky and the home made crumpets with feijoa curd were good. Next time I'll try the croque madame.

Went for dinner last night, got a table straight away, the staff were warm and friendly. The food was slightly disappointing it was overly seasoned to the point of requiring large glasses of water. The poor salad had drowned under its dressing, making it very unpleasant.

Nice food and plenty of space so it's almost always possible to get a table. Food is a little expensive but generally worth it. The pizzas are my favourite

We chose to go here for my birthday dinner last Sat because we have always had good food and good service in the past. <br/>Unfortunately it was far from it, people at our table got plastic in their pizza. I watched my friend get wacked by the waitress twice when she reached over to clear glasses that still had liquid in them with no apology for elbowing her in the head. <br/>We waited over an hour for our food, and received pizzas that were burnt almost black on the underside & food that was far too salty and dry. Not a great experience and likely to choose not to go here in the future.

Had saturday breakfast and was very pleasantly surprised to see they have REAL bread! As in Scandinavian style rye bread, freshly baked. And they sell their bread also! This place is worth a visit for their rye bread alone but their coffee was good, the food was very good (I had salmon with capers to go with my rye). The decor is modern but cozy and their staff was efficient and friendly. Good value for money, especially for Wellington.

This is my new favourite pizza place in Wellington. I orderes their mushroom pizza and it was amazing. My friend ordered their pasta and it was also delicious. Went here on a friday night and it was super busy but their service was still good and food came out fast.

Disappointing! Loretta looks the part of a top wellington eatery but fails to deliver on anything else. The staff were okay and friendly enough. I understand it was busy so they were a little overwhelmed. I ordered the zucchini fritters on their brunch menu. If I had been blindfolded I would swear I was eating an ashtray! It was so burnt I couldn't taste anything else for hours. My partner ordered the bacon waffles and what do you know!? Burnt! The only saving grace for Loretta was the coffee. Outrageously over priced for what they're putting out.

Beautiful room, great staff, talented kitchen. We've been here 3 times over the last half year - brunch, lunch, and dinner -- and the kitchen has been consistent. The menu has a defined ethos, so if you like their style, you'll like everything. If not . . . oh well. Luckily we like the food.

Had the continental breakfast which was revolting, but I probably should have known better than to order such a thing at a cafe. Have also heard they treat their employees poorly which is not okay. Get it together Loretta!

I didn't go into your place today as planned as it was dreadfully noisy outside this lunch time.  I understand people were protesting because of the appalling way you treat staff.  If this is true I will think it unlikely that I will ever eat there really

Bacon and banana are an amazing pair but why banana when Loretta can strawberries???? I still remember that day when I question the possibility of bacon and banana together in a waffle. From then I was in search for one dish to make me fall in love with it but perhaps there's no point in looking anymore when I'm already taken aback with this next level combo. And waffles like these are perfect for the days you can't choose between sweet and savoury. The only thing this waffle lacks is a bit of crunch. The bacon was crunchy but it on its own is insufficient. Crunchy waffles as a special request next time!

I have been a regular customer at Loretta since it opened and I visit at least once or twice a month. Loretta's reputation for the highest quality of food, service, decor and ambience is a reflection of the hard work, dedication and level of skill and standard modelled by the owners and reflected by management and their staff. Loretta is listed in Cuisine Magazine as one of the best restaurants in the country and for good reason and this is no easy feat. I have never experienced any such thing as substandard food or service as their standards are consistently high. I have noticed Lorettas retain very long term staff who are highly skilled. I honestly rate Lorettas and Floriditas as the top tier of eateries Wellington has to offer and Al Brown and Phaidon publishers (for best pizza) to name a few do too. This place is on trend with interesting fresh ingredients, a well balanced menu with a twist on classic. The dishes are beautifully executed with care in a gorgeous setting. This place has its eye on detail from the crockery to steak knives, glasses, flowers and furniture. It has everything a foodie could ever want and more. Try it for yourself and decide.

Just wow...from the service that is exceptional to the food that you cannot fault. What an incredible establishment. The design and decoration is simple and effective and relaxing. This is our regular for our current and future trips to Wellington. From two fastidious customers with high expectations, a solid 5 stars.

I've had the fritters and the soup from here and they were both amazing! Wholesome food that's filling and nutritious. The bread that was served with the soup was so nice, I even wondered if I could buy it to take home. Lovely atmosphere as well

I have been to Loretta's a few times now and it's always busy so they must be doing something right. Today I had the sweet toast is which is hazelnut, chocolate and banana. It was delicious! They also had a great range of baked good options at the front which also looked amazing and I am definitely keen to try next time!

Lovely atmosphere with a good mix of people. Service was efficient and the meal was light and refreshing. The coconut and melon tea is simply sensational!

I was blown away by this place! I have been hearing good things about Loretta from my workmates, so when my friend from Auckland visited Wellington, I decided to give this place a try...<br/><br/>The restaurant is spacious and well decorated and we were quickly served by the staff. We decided to try the mushroom pizza and the penne.. The pesto sauce on the penne was just about the best I have ever tasted.. The mushroom pizza was also great - despite the lack of cheese or sauce, the pizza was amazing. It was well seasoned and the dough had a garlicky taste.. I was so amazed by Loretta, I will definitely be back!

Team lunch. First visit here. Nice decor. There is a table by the entrance with all the cakes/deserts on it. They looked epic!<br/><br/>The menu has some unique items, really interesting choices, but I did find it hard to choose something.<br/><br/>I settled on the Pork, almond, rocket and ricotta. Wood Fired Sandwich.<br/><br/>The bread was soft and freshly cooked, although a little doughy. <br/><br/>The ingredients were beautiful and complimented each other very well. The pork was quite salty but in balance with everything else it worked well.<br/><br/>The pork was quite sparse. A slice or two more would have made this perfect.

Horrible. Horrible food. Dry chicken with Coriander. Do not recommend. Do not waste $50+ on this restaurant.<br/>Do yourself a favour and just go get a $2 burger it will be ten times better than anything this restaurant makes.

This is one I will be coming back to time after time until I wade through the entire menu! It will take a while as I'm going to have to keep flying across the ditch to do it! <br/><br/>I stumbled in tonight to a stunning, comfortable venue, lovely warm staff who knew their menu well! <br/><br/>The menu inspiring and innovative. <br/><br/>I had the sumac lamb skewers, farro and Jerusalem artichoke with green yoghurt, a full burst of intense flavours, clean and crisp! <br/><br/>Finished off with just a scoop of wait for it.... Fennel ice cream! Divine! <br/><br/>It really doesn't get a lot better than this, can't wait to try brekky! <br/><br/>

Service was ok. Very busy day with mothers day. Meals were really good however a little pricey. I had the pie which wasn't bad but cant say i would order it again

My love for Loretta borders on obsessional. This place is huge so even in peak dining hours it's easy to be seated. The staff were so welcoming and genuinely passionate about the food. The food itself is exquisite. Had the pea pesto penne and my friends had some more salady dishes. Will definitely be back for the pizza.....

Fresh and tasty food with an ever changing menu.<br/><br/>The interior is all blonde wood and smooth surfaces - very Scandinavian in feel.<br/><br/>The key attraction here is the freshness of the ingredients and a leaning toward healthy choices.

Definitely a good experince!My Husband and I went there for a dinner and we wait a little bit for the table but then the service was super fast and very kind.<br/>Nice place with good atmosphere with warm light.<br/>Food was awesome: different and innovative flavours ( e.g. focaccia with rosemary, grapes and buffalo mozzarella), everything was super taste but light and fresh. We ordered an entree (focaccia), halloumi salad with Castelfranco Radicchio, a rarity even in Italy, a mushrooms pizza (wow) and a Salad. Eventually we barely finished all, next time we'll order less for sure.<br/>Super happy for my herbal tea, a real infusion of fresh lemon verbena leaves.

Six of us went to loretta on a Saturday for brunch. I ordered the vegetarian gluten-free feta, broccoli and pumpkin seed open sandwhich. Unfortunately I'm the critic and mine was not good. All a bit burnt but luckily the feta salvaged a 2.5 rating - also it was weirdly cold - even the bread. Everyone else really enjoyed their pizza, waffles and croque madame. Service was quick and everyone was nice. <br/>Menu was limited and unclear about vegetarian or gluten-free so I had to ask which I always feel like a bit of a pest doing. <br/><br/>I sipped on a friends smoothie and it was good - but based on my meal I wouldn't go back.

Came here for brunch & had been told the coconut yoghurt was a must try. Definitely agree. Had the waffles with bacon + coconut yoghurt and it was delicious. Quite a generous serving of bacon, couldn't finish it all. The cold drip coffee is perfect, nice and strong but not at all bitter. Would buy the yoghurt by the bucket full, haha. Service was quick, even though it was pretty full.

Food was really good, if you are just having a main then you will need some sides as they don't come with anything. In terms of price it is slightly overpriced once sides are added and our experience was slightly let down by service. Part of our meal was forgotten and staff didn't check if everything was okay with our meals, we had to get their attention to tell them, by the time that part arrived we had almost finished. Carafe of wine is very small and overpriced. The vibe could be a lot nicer if the staff were more friendly and down to earth.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LORETTA! <br/>Always my go to place when i head out into wellington city!<br/>I am always impressed with the food.<br/>In fact I am going to Loretta to enjoy a lovely meal tomorrow morning :)

Nice place, good service. <br/>Really fresh dish, good advice to try it. The menu have healthy options. I would like to visit it again. The carrot tea was an interesting option, nice flavors.

I tend to shy away from places that get loads of attention as they often don't live up to the hype but Loretta stands out as a place that not only lives up to the hype but exceeds it!<br/>The menu is innovative and appealing, the staff are knowledgeable and friendly and the food is excellent. <br/>My only negative comment if pushed would be that it can be quite noisy, try to get seated in the middle or back bit if you want a more intimate meal.

Great place, if you feel like having average-tasting, overpriced meals served with a generous side of tryhard 'kinfolk' style. A bit too 'trendy' for my liking. We had the sole & chicken schnitzel, the schnitzel was great (although it gave me heartburn), but the sole was disappointing and underwhelming. Also, Im not impressed by their freshly printed daily menus - I feel its a bit of a waste. Keen on trying the desert menu, if I can be convinced to go back.

This is the definition of style over substance. Walking in you are greeted with a modern and airy space with lots of natural materials and exposed brick. We went for brunch and the service was friendly albeit understandably slower due to the amount of guests. The food, while eloquently described in the menu, is lacking in originality and woeful value for money. We ordered "Granola," eggs toast and a croque Madame. The Granola looked like store bought cereal with perhaps some trendy nuts or super-fruits added, unceremoniously poured in to a bowl. To justify the $14 price tag (plus 50c for soy milk) it would have been nice to see some fresh fruit or a garnish of any kind to show for it. The eggs on toast were similarly uninspired but I have less qualms withbit because there's a limit to what you can do with poached eggs. The $5.50 extra for 6 mushrooms stung a little. The saving grace was the croque Madame, which was well cooked and flavour rich. Overall the place itself is nice and maybe dinner is better but considering what you pay, you don't get a lot.

The menu was interesting and it was clearly fascinating seeing them preparing the food, really precise and dedicated. The fish pizza was delicious and I think the asparagus pizza is re very popular one as the cooks just kept on making them. One of my friend got the pasta and they were delish, I got the schnitzel with potatoes. They told me the side was included when it was not, wouldn't have gone for potatoes otherwise. They were a lot of them but really nothing special. The older waiter was a very attentive man who kept refilling our glasses and make sure everything was alright so really good mention to him. However the woman in charge was quite rude and arrogant and trying to sell us bites and drinks all the time. When I asked for some more water she was very dismissive and I had to ask someone else. Would not go back there mainly because of her attitude that ruined the experience. Once again, the cooks were fabulous to watch.

Came here today and loved it! Very cool industrial look. Interesting variety in food and lovely staff. I had the granola with Greek Yougurt instead of milk and my friend had 2 perfectly poached eggs with mushrooms and thyme. We had a kale, pear, passion fruit smoothie and a mango, peach and yogurt smoothie.

Came here for a birthday dinner not so long ago and the food was brilliant. Overall we had a great night.<br/><br/>Checking in for brunch I was expecting a similar experience and was surprised at the lack of attentive service and food quality.<br/><br/>BURNT BACON was extremely disappointing I mean how do you f*up bacon? ( Refer to my pictures)<br/><br/>Took 10 minutes before somebody came and got us menus and another pair sat down 5 minutes after we got there and got served before us.<br/><br/>Poached eggs were delicious and the toast was decent enough. Chicken Fennell was very interesting, looked like a chicken patty but tasted like pepper chicken Chinese style. <br/><br/>Showstopper: Poached Egg<br/><br/>Overall Grade: C+<br/><br/>( A three rating because I did have an awesome time here before)

Absolutely lovely atmosphere to be in even when it's really busy. Great light and also comfortable. The staff are really nice the service is great. The food is absolutely delicious and there are plenty of options for everyone - defiantly recommend the salads!! Can be a little pricey but it's worth what you are paying for. Will definitely be coming back!

Went to Loretta this evening for a staff function and I have to say I was very impressed. I love restaurants that place an emphasis on healthy eating, but still make the food really tasty. <br/><br/>I had the quinoa salad which was pretty good! The portion was massive. I swear there was a whole zucchini in there! The chicken was cooked to perfection, so moist and flavoursome! There's nothing worse than dry over cooked chicken, they really nailed it. My only criticism is I wish there was a bit more dressing for the salad! <br/><br/>I had some of my friends chickpea salad which was also so yummy! The buckwheat was so nice and crunchy. Also tried some of the chicken pizza which was amazing if you love thin bases! The sauce on top was so creamy with a hint of chilli.<br/><br/>The stuffed vine leaves were AMAZING!!!! I could've eaten 10 of them. I was a bit sceptical at first as cold leaf parcels don't look particularly inviting, but wow they definitely crushed any doubts I had. The Greek yoghurt complimented them so well!!!! Tasted more like aioli! <br/><br/>Also had a slice of their vegan chocolate raspberry cake (takeaway) which again was so yum! Would love to return to try more of their desserts as they all sounded so appetising. <br/><br/>Overall I was super impressed with Loretta and would definitely return! Slightly higher prices so wouldn't recommend if you were on a budget.

Absolutely love this place! Their pizza is really good, I recommend the chicken or the artichoke pizza. Service is good, decor is great and venue is large enough to risk turning up on a Saturday night without a booking and have a good chance of getting a table. Brunch is also very good here.

Pearl lustre walls, exposed concrete pillars, polished concrete floors, gentle pine furniture, Scandinavian/industrial, clean and spacious.<br/><br/>It's been eighteen months since my last visit to loretta, soon after it opened. It was a good example how service can seriously deter you from ever returning. We were having a pizza and I'd ordered a Pinot noir to go with it. When the Pinot arrived it was had a screw cap and for that reason, when the waitress asked if I'd like to try it - I said no and asked her to pour. She was visibly miffed and turned to my partner and asked her the same question. On receiving the same reply she, doubly miffed, raised the screw cap to her nose, sniffed and finally poured our wine. (That is an exact rendition of events - I swear) - the rest of the meal dissolved into a blur of disbelief and annoyance. <br/><br/>I am not interested in tasting screw capped reds - sure they can have faults but they can be detected once poured and the frequency is far less than with corks. Perhaps an initial tasting of a bottle with a cork seal is some chivalrous desire to protect the other guests from corked wine, but personally I think it's a good idea that everyone try it - few people actually know what corked wine tastes like - they know it's unpleasant but simply think they made a bad choice. A corked wine is a chance for an educational experience in gastronomy.<br/><br/>After that cathartic rant I'll get back to breakfast - for three this morning. <br/><br/>Trim cap - perfect texturing, a lovely flavour, well made and nicely presented. <br/>A flat white, equally good texturing, also a very good coffee. <br/><br/>The menu was good - choices that included traditional egg-centred dishes with some oddments that caught my eye. <br/><br/>We ordered :-<br/><br/>Egg (poached) with bacon on a very grainy bread: perfectly cooked orange yolked eggs, excellent bacon and superb, house made bread.<br/><br/>Bircher muesli with a slice of lime as garnish. With grated/finely chopped apple. Ok but I thought it had a rather raw flavour/mouthfeel. Not the best Bircher but ok. Would have preferred larger apple pieces for some textural contrast. Adding a spoonful of raw sugar (a great addition to the table condiments) improved it.<br/><br/>Warm rice with crumbled chicken sausage. A very rich, gluey risotto with chilli adding heat and chopped parsley adding spots of colour. It arrived in a bowl - like porridge. It was very rich and the richness was unrelieved - in other words no respite from one spoon after another - I think it needed an accompaniment of some form. I also found it slightly too salted. It was improved by adding a squeeze of the lime from the Bircher muesli, the acid helping balance the salty richness.<br/><br/>The dishes were served on Paul Melser pottery (Wairarapa) which were perfect for the ambience and style of food.<br/><br/>The lady with the interest in screw capped wine was absent thankfully. The staff that served us were lovely and onto their game. <br/><br/>We left with a takeaway scone, some freshly baked bread - both excellent.<br/><br/>Returned for breakfast 28/9/15:<br/>An excellent Sunday morning brunch.<br/>Rice pudding - warm soothing, cardamom with golden raisins. A fancy version of the Indian payasam - why does it take a restaurant like loretta to give us treasures like this when standard Indian restaurants are so pathetically dull in their choice of desserts!! Alternatively try Arroz con Leche on seriouseats.com.<br/>Schnitzel : crispy, coarse crumbed and herbed pork - with a fried egg - slices of the pork dipped in yolk was excellent.<br/>Fried egg and bacon : good bacon, eggs slightly verging on over cooked.<br/>Chicken sausage and fennel pizza - very pleasant - gentle but with the fennel fronds maybe a little too evident on the tongue - an almost anaesthetic effect.<br/>Apart from that minimally negative comment - an excellent brunch/lunch - one of wellingtons best.<br/><br/>Recommended<br/><br/>Groups: Yes<br/>Kids: Yes<br/>Date night: yes<br/>Family occasions: perhaps<br/>Girls night/brunch out: yes<br/>Foodies: yes

Went to Loretta two days in a row a few weeks ago. Once for Lunch and the next day for Brunch. <br/><br/>What I love the most is the vast range of options for each mealtime.<br/><br/>The lunch menu ranges from simple salads to wood fired pizzas and sandwiches (WHAT). I opted for the wood fired goats cheese, cucumber and dill sandwich - OMG - the flavours complemented each other so well and none of them overwhelmed the others. My friend had seeds, feta and broccoli on toast - I had a bite of the feta and it was some of the best feta I have ever tasted! I washed down my meal with a glass of Chianti - my first experience - which was a great red.<br/><br/>For brunch I tried the Waffles with coconut yoghurt, berries and bacon - WOW - the waffles were a perfect consistency and the coconut yoghurt was so good that I went around telling friends about it for the next few days! If they sold their coconut yoghurt by the tub, I would definitely be first in line to buy! I also had a drip filter from Nicaragua - gorgeous flavours, not at all bitter and doesn't really need milk, even though they provide it just in case! <br/><br/>Keen to try Loretta for dinner!

Had the chicken and potatoes which consisted of chicken and potatoes. Which would be ok if it was cooked better than I could do for a rushed Sunday lunch - it wasn't. Not very tasty and over priced.

Wow! I had heard fantastic things about Loretta and I was not disappointed. My boyfriend and I went in for a casual Saturday lunch and were lucky to get a table straight away as the place was bustling. I ordered the pancakes with blueberries, coconut yogurt and bacon - DELICIOUS! Zach had the steak pie which was also on point, considering he is sous chef at one of Wellingtons busiest waterfront restaurants he was very pleased! Great, and quick service with delicious food. Not the cheapest place for a yummy brunch in Wellington but worth the extra money for the atmosphere and quality of dining. 5 stars!

I got the sweet toastie and it's one of the best things I have ever eaten. It was absolutely delicious!! And for 13.50 I almost couldn't finish is and it kept me full for hours. The service was really good too! It was such a lovely experience and I will definitely be back!

Great experience all round! Unique wood and neutral Nordic decor sets the scene for incredible food and good service. Friendly quick and relaxed vibe. I had the Croque Madame and it was seriously good. So yum. The coffee was on point and my friend had rice pudding which was also delicious. Saw some other dishes I'd like to try so will be back!

I love the Scandi-influenced interior, its light brown wooden tables and white paint gives the place a light and appealing feel.<br/><br/>I have to say I like that they are experimenting with different flavour combos and use the freshest products available! It's refreshing seeing a very different menu that isn't full of all the usual suspects. <br/><br/>I have had a couple of their salads now they and they are unique and fresh. Not to mention filling, plus half of them are gluten free. <br/><br/>I have also had the smoked salmon on gluten free bread – this was simple but the gluten free bread they use here is outstanding. <br/><br/>But the artichoke patè definitely is my favourite dish that I have got there so far, served with their delicious gluten free bread.<br/><br/>Sarah Reynolds #challange

Great food, service and atmosphere! Quality wholesome foods :) One of my favourite places to eat in Wellington! I recommend the eggs or waffles for breakfast!Davo Stockton

I had a great experience few days ago, my food was yummy and the waitress was so nice and friendly. They take care of all the details of the restaurant ✔️.

Came in for dessert last night! Had the vegan raspberry chocolate cake which was really yummy! Staff were friendly and efficient. Menu looks amazing - and as a visitor to wellington am determined to come back and try the menu food at some point!! Also had the salted caramel lollie on the way out which was wonderful.

Sister cafe to the famous and ever-so-popular Floriditas, Loretta is less than a block away and also on Cuba Street. Occupying a much larger store with spacious seating throughout the whole dining area, getting a table here is surprisingly easy and hassle free. We came in on a beautiful Saturday for lunch and was quickly offered a table, cool water and menu so we could decide on what to have for brunch.<br/><br/>Their brunch menu which runs from 10AM to 2 PM boast a variety of dishes and will have a dish for just about anyone. You can have a healthy granola, a hearty pie, a guilty waffles with bacon and even pizzas if you're interested in sharing with your dining companions. Several gluten-free and vegetarian options for those with a specific dietary requirement.<br/><br/>I couldn't resist so I had the bacon and waffles served with a generous dollop of coconut yoghurt cream and blueberry coulis. They were certainly not shy with the portion on this one. I adored the combination of bacon and waffles. The coconut yoghurt sealed the deal for me as it added just the right amount of tang. My sisters on the other hand ordered the smoked salmon, popped capers, rocket and seed bread continental breakfast as well as the smoked mackrel open wholewheat sandwich. They both enjoyed their meal.<br/><br/>Floriditas is a Wellingtonian favourite and their success has carried over to Loretta. Service was quick and attentive, our water glasses were topped up frequently and our plates cleared in a timely manner. The wooden decor gave the place a cool modern vibe and the food was delicious. What more can you ask for in a cafe?

I've been to Loretta twice for brunch and blown away both times. Their breakfast rice is outstanding. Really good service, nice coffee, varied good quality tea menu and nice atmosphere. Wonderful place for catching up with friends. The brunch menu also has plenty of options if you're not in the mood for eggs!

Popped in for an early breakfast while visiting Wellington. Gorgeous interior, a little scandy/industrial. Welcoming friendly staff. Strong smooth coffee (had to have 2 cups it was that good). Ordered waffles with bacon and berries and gosh darn it, it was tasty. These guys have nailed it! Rock on Loretta

We have been recommended to Loretta by several friends. What a gorgeous but quirky restaurant. The decor and service were outstanding. The menu is limited if you want a la carte or several meat options. Go somewhere else. If like me you love beautiful ingredients cooked and prepared with care and flare you will enjoy Loretta. It is best to order several dishes and share plates. I will certainly be back. <br/>

I've been here for brunch twice now and the food has been consistently lovely. The mushrooms which you can add as a side with eggs especially were fantastic. I have had the crumpets twice and they were lovely both times except a little cold the second time. The reason I haven't given a better score however is the service. The service is ridiculously slow and surly. Last time we went we had drunk our coffees and had them cleared away before even a brioche we ordered was brought to us! A few of the staff need to get better attitudes. If you look past the service and aren't in a rush however it is worth a visit for brunch.<br/><br/>I thought I'd<br/>update my review as I have recently been for dinner and it was the worst meal I<br/>have ever had in Wellington.<br/><br/>Four of us went for<br/>dinner last Friday night and the food was awful, I've never had a meal in<br/>Wellington where all 4 meals were extremely disappointing. I had the clams<br/>which were horrendous and by far the worst. They had not been cleaned properly<br/>and were still full of sand. Some of them were not open!!!! They<br/>were resting in an insipid grey water which was tasteless and the colour<br/>made it extremely unappetizing. I couldn’t eat most of it.<br/><br/>One of my other friends<br/>had the rabbit risotto which was also extremely lack luster. The menu does<br/>disclaim that there maybe be a few odd bones which she was okay with however<br/>there were so many bones in this risotto that she spent more time pulling out<br/>bones than eating. For $24 a serve this was really poor quality. <br/><br/>My paleo friend had<br/>a quinoa salad with pulled chicken which she declared to be extremely average<br/>and boring. When a person is paleo and they call their food boring, you know<br/>something is wrong. It was beyond basic and extremely over priced at $18. <br/><br/>The fourth person<br/>had the mushroom pizza which was definitely the best out of the four. She did<br/>believe the base was a very good consistency but the flavour was again lacking.<br/>She was not happy with the large mushrooms on the pizza and it was very<br/>difficult to eat. <br/><br/>All in all the<br/>service was very good from our waitress which was odd as every time I have been<br/>there during the day the service is awful. I do not understand how this<br/>restaurant is consistently full at night, most plates I saw go back to the<br/>kitchen had food left on it. I will not revisit for dinner again and I would<br/>not recommend.

Well, I was intrigued by an article which said they r a great place for break fast, and " a great egg with bacon" is the must try. So I came this morning for brunch. Service is okay, ingredients were good, but the bacon was burned! I don't understand how the chief can allow an awful plate out from his kitchen. Disappointed, never be back again! I'll also tell all of my friends avoid from this place.

Had the soup today for lunch. Was really nice and relatively healthy. Love the decor and layout of the cafe, really nice place to eat over all. Pricing was quite good too.

We went as a group of 11 people on a busy Saturday morning. It didn't feel rushed and while we were busy they made sure that we had enough water and that we had coffee/juice if we wanted it. When it ca,e time to order, there were various dietary requirements which could have caused a problem. Instead they were happy to alter the menu to satisfy each person. After we finished eating, we still weren't pushed out the door but instead asked if we wanted anymore drinks. Service was exceptional! I had the Green eggs without bacon and found them delicious.

What to say about Loretta? The decor is modern and clean and very woody!! The dining space is pretty big but the staff are attentive and always on hand with water and offers of drinks. The menu is a little pretentious and fairly overpriced. $14 for what is essentially muesli?? Having said that the food is tasty and fresh. I'd go back again but I think there are better places on Cuba St.

Good wholesome food treated and offered right - and our group left replete and refreshed ... and satisfied on just about all fronts. Additional staff would have reduced the wait time between services - but when the staff had the chance to engage - they were courteous and professional. Definitely still one of Wellington's "secrets" ... but one we will be happy to share. Hope the staffing is sorted for when we return.

I chose to go to Lorettas today for my birthday lunch with my 5 yr old and husband. It was really busy when we entered and I couldn't see any spare tables so was worried we wouldn't get in, but it took them 1 min to set up a lovely space and have us seated. We loved the decor and we loved the food. My son got a mango yoghurt smoothie and his dad and I kept drinking so much of it we had to order him another. My buckwheat chickpea salad was a large serving size and was fresh and yum. My son loved the homemade crumpets and my husband was very happy with his berry and bacon waffles (son wants them next time). I also wanted something a little naughty so ordered the ham and gruyere toastie with fried egg for the 3 of us to share - luscious. Although we'd had so much food and were full, it's my bday so I wanted to indulge in something sweet and I had seen their homemade icecream on the website. I'm not sure if it is usually served at lunch, but our waitress assured me it was no problem to get some then so I had one scoop of choc-cinnamon gelato and one scoop of Seville orange with choc chip icecream. My son had one scoop of mango sorbet. I love icecream and all three were truly Devine!!

Love Lorettas!  I love the changing menu with its consistent abundance of fresh seasonal vegetables, the simple but stylish atmosphere, the beautiful speckled plates and bowls and mugs. I go to Lorettas often and after numerous visits, one thing I can say is that it's a place I always leave thinking-- "It just needed a little more...something."  Just a bit more dressing on the salad, a dash more seasoning on the pizza, just a teensy bit more punch of flavour in everything.  I'm not a huge fan of their brunch...but I do really love their dinner menu.  I find myself craving their salads all the time. <br/><br/>The service is a bit erratic.  Sometimes, it has been warm and friendly and perfect.  Other times, it has felt like we were ignored for ages and it was a mission to try and catch someone's eye to get service.  Once, it was almost intrusive the number of times the waitress filled our water glass--every few minutes isn't really necessary.  Finally, there are a couple of wait staff that constantly seem annoyed to see you.  But overall, I just love the place and perhaps it will just get better with time.  Despite its flaws, I'd have to say it's my favourite restaurant in Wellington right now.

I hate giving bad reviews, but no sauce! And no option of sauce as a side, no sauces I could order unless I paid for a big jar to take away, when the meal I had really really needed it....place looks great, esp if you're into clean and pale spaces, but I like sauce. Admittedly it was around a month ago that I went, so maybe things have changed?

This cafe is easy to miss on first visit - tucked away next to Slowboat on Cuba St, with no prominent sign outside. However, inside its hard to forget Loretta - lovely staff, beautiful decor and ambience, and incredible food. Loretta is a great combination of healthy, whole grain food that has a very 'Wellington' vibe (read: kale, almond milk) and luxurious baked goods. One of the things I like most about Loretta is that you can go on a Saturday morning at the busiest time, and still get a table, something that is infrequently found at Wellington hotspots. I also love having a green juice as a healthy start to the day, and being dairy-free appreciate the wide variety of non-dairy milks available (almond, rice, soy, coconut). Loretta is a great addition to the food scene in Wellington, and the daily changing menu is sure to keep us guessing for a long while yet. Favourite!

A place that pays homage to its ingredients. Credit well deserved for that aspect. The whole chicken was tender and succulent. The salads were nice, fresh, flavourful. The food overall is light, natural and healthy, not too rich, I actually feel great after dining at Loretta. <br/><br/>Now the negatives. The pizza breads or pizzettes were a bit bland, especially the base which didn't match the finely executed toppings. Food here is a bit pricey for what it is though, and service - our table seemed to be in a blind spot and I had to walk up to a waiter to get service and I received quite a rude response. <br/><br/>I think if it weren't for the price and the poor service, Loretta would've got higher scores.

Had high expectations for the sister of Floradita's however was let down by the menu. A lot of chicken and grains and only one beef option which schnitzel - one of the cheapest cuts of meat.<br/><br/>My chicken grain salad was very average and the chicken was luke warm with a lot of cartilage. <br/><br/>Our waitress was very attentive however the maitre d seemed very stressed and short with the customers. Ended up pay $49 for chicken salad, wine, and a coffee - very expensive for what I got. <br/><br/>Wouldn't recommend for dinner but maybe lunch, as the menu doesn't change very much.

2 &amp; a 1/2 stars. Our waitress was really awesome but the food wasn't. Cold sandwich bread, smoked salmon &amp; rocket leaves isn't what I'd call breakfast. I was pretty hungry afterwards. I'll go back to try a pizza though!

I was really looking forward to trying this place as I'd heard great things. But I walked in at 7.50am to meet friends at 8am and was greeted by a very annoyed waitress that said they weren't open yet. It was a cold morning so I asked if I could sit in the corner and wait. The waitress let out an annoyed sigh so I said I'd wait outside. I saw her come to the door so I thought she was going to apologise for being rude and ask me in, but she locked the door. I won't be back.

I REALLY want to like this place, but it's proving a challenge. The menu is fabulous - it's innovative and different and there are some great surprises on there (I love that a new menu is issued each day, with the date and the weather at the top - which is a nice touch), however the food is a little bit pricey by Wellington standards. The space is also fantastic - huge floor area and light decor - it's just the SERVICE that I keep having bad luck with. The first visit we were given the wrong order, and on the second visit (for brunch on Saturday) it took almost an hour for our food to appear. Compounding that, our server didn't seem to understand that we were there to catch up - she interrupted conversation (if she'd waited 10 seconds we'd have stopped to acknowledge her), and then later stood over my friend while she finished her coffee, so she could take the cup (!?) - again - what's the hurry?! Loretta's fantastic menu is what will ensure a return visit - I'm very much hoping the service and timing issues are simply teething problems.

Nice food, good interior decor, but you need to rethink your prices. My woodfired sandwich was definitely a $8-$10 dish, but cost $14 (not $12 as shown on online menu) and my friend's fritters were lovely, but also overpriced at $17 - served with just a sprinkle of greens on top and no chutney on the side, despite Loretta selling jars of the stuff on the counter. My latte was minute but still cost $4. Next door table was served $20 pizza with a burnt bottom. Wood-fired pizza can be great with a smoky hue, but burnt at these prices is not a good look. Simple, fresh fare should be realistically priced. If you're going to charge over the odds, attention to detail is vital.

Have been several times during the day and nice place for a coffee. Good design, supporting local artisan with their pottery plates, and good acoustics - a welcome change. But food is pretty average. Last night we had the soup, beetroot and roast chicken soup ($13 a bowl). If it was called a broth I could have forgiven the bowl of colured water with a few bits of grated beetroot. The beef pie ($18) turned out to be a very small chicken pasty. Cheesecake was light and tasty. Perhaps the pizzas are better. I will try them IF I go back.

We went for an unexpected meal here last Thursday. We were just walking past and read the menu. Loved it! <br/><br/>The service was friendly and the food fantastic. We both had the schnitzel and lemon - which was outstanding - and some interesting sides. They also do most of the wines as a half bottle, which is brilliant!<br/><br/>I have recommended this new addition to friends and will definitely return.

I had my birthday dinner at Loretta last Friday night. It was excellent! Great food, lovely service and nice atmosphere. <br/><br/>My partner and I have recently become vegetarians, and the number of options on the menu had us bamboozled - so much choice! We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and will definitely be back.

We tried to attend the 2nd night of service at Lorettas, a Friday night, we went to grab a table around 7pm and they sent us away due to full capacity, which as a new, popular restaurant I can understand, but they also told us that if we came back in 45 or so mins that they would definitely seat us. We went off for a quick drink and came back on time to be 'pleasantly' told that they won't be seating anyone else tonight as they hadn't expected the 'popularity' and that we can come back for lunch tomorrow and that we must understand because they're a new restaurant. To be honest, Floriditas is a well established venue and if the owners haven't figured out that they need enough food to get them past 8pm on a Friday night then good luck to them. I'm hungry. I will be back, and I hope they're serving.